LINCOLN — An on-again, off-again effort to ensure public access to the Niobrara River is back on.

If the purchase of the Rocky Ford rapids area happens this time – it was blocked more than once a decade ago – it would maintain the public use of an important take-out point for those floating and kayaking the nationally designated scenic river.  

A National Park Service representative and the private owner of the Rocky Ford rapids separately confirmed that discussions are underway to have the federal agency purchase the 26-acre site around the rapids, which is the ending point for many float trips down the Niobrara and a popular spot for camping and picnicking in north-central Nebraska.

About 75,000 people each year visit the 76-mile-long, federally designated scenic stretch of the Niobrara River, making it one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. Because Rocky Ford is in private hands, there’s always a worry that public access to the scenic spot will be shut off, or that access fees will become too expensive.

“There is no better deck in the state of Nebraska,” said Rocky Ford owner Brad Arrowsmith of the view from a cabin on the property.

“That place is therapeutic,” he said.

Arrowsmith, a rancher from Mills, purchased Rocky Ford eight years ago after a canoe outfitter’s effort to sell the property to the Park Service, and later to the Niobrara Scenic River Council, both fell through. 

Members of the state’s congressional delegation, as well as local ranchers and representatives on the Niobrara Council, were among those who opposed federal ownership of the property.

In 2018, Arrowsmith said he purchased the rapids to retain local control and to avoid a new private owner from shutting off access to Rocky Ford. The river there has one of the state’s few Class III rapids – rapids with high waves and rocks that require an experienced paddler.

But when the $2.5 million sale to the Niobrara Council fell through, Arrowsmith retained ownership and a canoe outfitting business continued. He eventually took over the business.

But the semi-retired rancher, 58, said he’s more interested now in enjoying the “retired” side of his life and ditching the “semi” portion.

“I never bought it to get into the outfitting business in the first place,” Arrowsmith said. “My hair’s a little whiter than yours. I’m tired.”

So talks began a few months ago to sell the property to the Park Service.

Susan Cook, superintendent of the Niobrara National Scenic River office in Valentine, confirmed that she’s discussed a purchase with Arrowsmith.

“We’re just starting to look at it,” Cook said.

She declined to say whether the Park Service had money allocated for the purchase – as it did a decade ago – or where the money to purchase the site could come from.

Arrowsmith said that he’d also offered, again about a year ago, to sell Rocky Ford to the Niobrara Council, but was again rebuffed.

He said he’s also been approached by a private party to purchase the site and continue the outfitting business.

“At the end of the day I’d love to keep it in local hands … but I’m not sure they can come up with the change to do it,” he said.

Just how quickly, or how long, a purchase might take is unclear. Arrowsmith said he has made improvements to the property that make Rocky Ford more attractive for a buyer.  

“It’s not the old ratty wood walkway up to the office,” he said, adding that he also replaced a “monstrosity of a retaining wall” on the land.

The college football bowl season heads to New York and iconic Yankee Stadium for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl that features the Boston College Eagles taking on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Boston College’s first year under head coach Bill O’Brien did not go as planned, as the Eagles finished with a 7-5 record. But the team is now aiming for a much-needed bowl victory to conclude the season on a positive note. Junior Grayson James took over the offense after starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos was benched and subsequently left the program. Since becoming the starting quarterback, James has achieved a 64% completion rate, throwing for 901 yards, with six touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are set to make a triumphant return to the bowl game scene, their first appearance since 2016. Despite a challenging season that saw them finish with a 6-6 record, the team has shown significant growth and potential. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola ran the offense and showed some raw talent, completing 66.6% of his passes and throwing for 2,595 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Here is everything to know ahead of kickoff for the Pinstripe Bowl:

Pinstripe Bowl predictions: Boston College vs. Nebraska

USA TODAY: Picks are split

• Scooby Axson: Boston College
• Jordan Mendoza: Nebraska
• Paul Myerberg: Boston College
• Erick Smith: Boston College
• Eddie Timanus: Nebraska
• Dan Wolken: Nebraska

ESPN: Boston College 27, Nebraska 21

Adam Rittenberg writes: “Nebraska is back in a bowl game for the first time since the 2016 Music City Bowl, which means Yankee Stadium will turn red. But the Huskers barely got here, dropping five of their final six games, and recently lost defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton to Florida State. Boston College has had a better overall season under first-year coach Bill O’Brien, whose quarterback switch to Grayson Grames sparked a solid finish. The Eagles go from a bowl win at Fenway Park in 2023 to one at Yankee Stadium.”

Clutch Points: Boston College

Bryan Logan writes: “One of the biggest issues in the stretch run for Nebraska was turnovers. They are 68th in the nation in turnover margin this year. Meanwhile, Boston College is 22nd in the nation. further, Nebraska will have little ground game in this one with Dante Dowdell gone. They are missing two staring defensive players, and three others that played major time. Take Boston College in this one.”

Tickets to the Pinstripe Bowl with StubHub

Pinstripe Bowl predictions: Boston College vs. Nebraska

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are favorites to defeat the Boston College Eagles, according to the BetMGM college football odds.

Odds as of afternoon of Friday, Dec. 25.

• Spread: Nebraska (-4)
• Moneylines: Nebraska (-190); Boston College (+160)
• Over/under: 46.5

How to watch Boston College vs. Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl

• Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
• Time: 12 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Stream: Fubo
• Where: Yankee Stadium (New York)

STREAM LIVE: Catch college bowl games with a Fubo subscription

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The last time Nebraska sat out the bowl season for seven years in a row, the Big 12 was still the Big 8, the 10 schools in the Big Ten didn’t include the Cornhuskers, and Yankee Stadium was still the House that Ruth Built.

That slump ended with an appearance in the short-lived Gotham Bowl at the original Yankee Stadium. The ballpark has been replaced, and so has the bowl game played in it.

The Huskers (6-6) will play Boston College (7-5) in the Pinstripe Bowl, ending the longest active bowl drought in any of the power conferences. Nebraska last appeared in the postseason in 2016, a stretch of losing seasons that was its longest in more than 60 years.

“It’s been a while,” athletic director Troy Dannen said after accepting the bowl invitation.

The trip ends Nebraska’s longest bowl drought since the one that ended in 1961. The program would go on to postseason appearances in 56 of the next 60 years, including a 35-year streak that included four national championships.

“Nebraska has a great, storied history,” Dannen said. “A lot of people are making references back to the Gotham Bowl in ’62, which is the last time Nebraska was in the city. For our fans to get back into the bowl mix again, to get to do it in the city in December, there is something special.”

After beating Wisconsin to gain bowl eligibility, coach Matt Rhule said he wants Husker fans to be thinking big again.

“This will be the last time we ever celebrate six wins,” he said.

Keying the Huskers’ turnaround is quarterback Dylan Raiola, who has thrown for almost 2,600 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman. More importantly, Raiola has reaffirmed his desire to stay in Lincoln while almost two dozen of his teammates entered the transfer portal, including running backs Dante Dowdell and Gabe Ervin, defensive lineman Jimari Butler and linebacker Princewill Umanmielen.

Cornerback Tommi Hill (foot), offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua (shoulder) and receiver Isaiah Neyor (opt out) have said they will sit out the Pinstripe Bowl, leaving a depleted roster to face an Eagles team that lost coaches after last season and changed quarterbacks in the middle of this one.

After a victory over SMU in last year’s Fenway Bowl, Jeff Hafley left to become the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers and was replaced by former Penn State and Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien.

O’Brien has the Eagles on the verge of what would be their first eight-win season since linebacker Luke Kuechly led them to an 8-5 mark in 2009. This year’s defense is led by lineman Donovan Ezeiruaku, a consensus All-American and the winner of the Hendricks Award for the best defensive end.

“The guy just had a special, special year,” O’Brien said, standing in front of a wall of Eagles who went on to play in the NFL. “His picture will be up here soon.”

The Eagles switched quarterbacks midseason, with Florida International transfer Grayson James replacing Thomas Castellanos, who started 20 games over the past two years. After losing to SMU in his first start, James led BC to wins over North Carolina and Pittsburgh to end the regular season.

Christmas in the city

As part of their trip to New York, the teams will hit all the Christmas highlights: Checking out the tree at Rockefeller Center, seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, visiting the Sept. 11 memorial and the Statue of Liberty. The captains and head coaches will ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

The Huskers will practice at the New York Giants’ stadium and at Fordham’s field, with one walkthrough in Central Park and another at Yankee Stadium.

“We aren’t going there for an experience. We are going there to win the game,” Rhule said. “We will have experiences along the way.”

Nebraska is celebrating the end of its bowl drought by bringing around 150 members of the marching band, cheerleaders and others to root on the team.

“It’s also going to be a new experience for everybody else that gets to be a part of this,” Dannen said. “The band, for Pete’s sakes, is going to be on the field in Yankee Stadium. Who would have imagined when you signed up as a freshman, when you signed up for band at the University of Nebraska, that this is something you get to do in your career?”

O’Brien was also looking forward to experiencing the city’s culinary scene.

“I’m looking forward to eating. I enjoy eating. I know the restaurants and all those things are great,” said the Boston native who has never been to Yankee Stadium. “I think it’s going to be a cool four or five days in New York City. I’m looking forward to the whole thing.”